Everything started a few years ago. I was the computer tech guy in a company, and did some computer maintenance. Unfortunately, the corporate hardware firewall was so restrictive, I couldn't access my own remote computers, in order to do my job... Funny situation.

So, after a few months requesting some firewall rules and nothing, I decided to find another solution. I discovered I could install a VPN server at home and connect to it using a special, almost always open port. Then I could forward my home internet connection, and access my remote computers (my home network as well)

I used this method during the following years, using a laptop, in various occasions. Then, Raspberry Pi came out and I could eventually build a standalone box. Just after this decision, the NSA/Snowden story came out and I decided to build my own secure internet device.

The software and hardware parts constantly evolved since then, here are the major variations until now.

May, 2013

This one was fully automatic, with 2 bicolors leds only there for status.

June, 2013

Fully automatic no more, but there is now a tiny screen, and I could navigate the interface using a wireless xbox360 controller (no so open source device, I agree with that)

June, 2013

No more xbox controller, but a small perfboard PCB to hold the tiny TFT + navigation buttons.

July, 2013

This one is the first public version. I made it to present it to the 2013 Libre Software Meeting (LSM) in Bruxells.

2013, August

Time for a python script rework...

2013, August

Ok, let's move to a custom "enclosure", more of a platform. I needed some easy access and a prototyping area.

2013, September

This one was the first version with 2.8" touchscreen. This one could rotate the front panel, came with an Arduino on breadboard and some electronics. It was some great fun to build and use.

2014, April

This one was made for a public presentation at the Fêtons Linux Geneva convention. This is the initial model I submitted to the HackaDayPrize.

There was a new python script rework.

2014, July

First major rework for the HackaDayPrize

2014, August

Second major rework for the HackaDayPrize. This one is really autonomous, thanks to the PiModules UPiS board and enclosure.

I planned some more major evolutions until the final device. I build/code the different evolutions when I have some new things to add, and a lot more is definitely coming.